Today Bioware released the Character Creator from Dragon Age: Origins. You can download it by following one of the links listed in this Bioware blog post. If you install it, create a character and then upload it to Bioware’s social site (which also launched today), you’ll get an in-game bonus, the Lucky Stone, when the game releases:

This old stone, set in a golden ring, has been an aid and companion to dozens of adventurers across innumerable years. Its trip to Ferelden was long and convoluted. Some say it has a life of its own.
Stats:
~ Adds +1 to all all stats.

Next order of business: gameplay. I had an interesting discussion on Twitter today, and someone pointed out to me that while Bioware has released a ton of trailers from the game, there’s been very little gameplay shown.

Well, Giant Bomb has a lengthy Quick Look that shows gameplay, which I’ll embed below. The reason I want to do this is that I’m discovering that some people are anticipating a different kind of game from what Bioware is delivering. They’ve promised a “spiritual sequel to Baldur’s Gate” and that’s the kind of game it is, and we’re talking about the PC games, not the console versions done by Snowblind Studios (which were action-rpgs). Dragon Age: Origins gameplay is going to be all about real-time RPG combat with the option to pause any time to adjust the actions of your party of characters. This isn’t an action game and you don’t have direct control over the characters to the point of, say, hitting a button to swing a sword. This is old school RPG gaming.

I just don’t want anyone being unhappily surprised on launch day. I’m super-excited to re-visit this style of gaming; it’s been quite a while since a major developers has done anything like this. But it won’t be for everyone.

Anyway, here’s the Quick Look. Do keep in mind that the Giant Bomb dudes goof on Dave, who is running this demo, because he is, as they call him, a Pauser (meaning he likes to pause the game a lot). You can play a bit more fluidly than he does, if you’d prefer. Or at least, I’m assuming you can because you could in the old games.

The creator is fun and has alot of facial options. The Giant Bomb video is funny as hell with the guys playing dying alot and the other guys cracking jokes. I like how the game isn’t very easy, he was on normal difficulty and was working overtime just to survive.